Southern California -- this just in

McDonald's hit by thieves stealing cooking oil

Police believe two suspects accused of stealing cooking grease from a Hemet McDonald's this week planned to resell it.

The theft of cooking grease has become a growing problem. The grease is sold
to recyclers and can be refined into biodiesel fuel.

After being burglarized at least twice, the owner of the McDonald's on West Florida Avenue decided to
stake out the restaurant Thursday night after business hours and called police at midnight
to inform them that he would be waiting inside in case the thieves returned, the Riverside Press-Enterprise reported.

About 1:50 a.m., the owner called and said burglars were at the
restaurant, stealing grease.

Police said that when they arrived at the scene they found Noel Portillo, 22, of Compton and
Ricardo Robles, 24, of Long Beach sitting inside a Dodge Ram pickup truck with the
engine running and a large metal tank mounted on the bed.